Folding Compact Pistol

ABSTRACT

A novel firearm constructed and arranged to selectively position into a firing configuration or one of two storage and carry configurations selected from either a rectangular or an in-line carry configuration.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/291,490 filed Feb. 4, 2016 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foldable firearms assist users in the conceal carry of their firearms. However, a problem exists in that not everyone likes of is able to carry the firearm folded in the conventional manner whereby the handle is folded underneath the barrel. There exists a need for a firearm with multiple foldable configurations. The present invention addresses this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention is a firearm where the grip (used by the hand that pulls the trigger) contains the magazine (which contains the ammunition for the firearm), where that grip can be folded in a manner to conceal, carry, or store the firearm. There is a simpler version of the invention configured to detach the magazine and store it underneath the barrel of the firearm to also make it easier to conceal, carry, or store the firearm. This invention also has one added benefit of changing the imprint of the firearm when concealed under clothing.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a firearm with a shorter magazine so that a user can still have the firearm loaded, while storing the larger magazine underneath the barrel, which make it easier to conceal, carry, or store the firearm. In another embodiment, the trigger folds up and the magazine protrudes into the pistol grip.

Traditionally, firearms that feed ammunition into the barrel from the magazine located in the grip are called ‘Pistols’. Pistols are typically in an L-shape form (with the grip protruding downward from the slide/barrel of the firearm), which makes it the most comfortable way to shoot but also makes it difficult to conceal under clothing or makes it bulky/uncomfortable to carry around in a holster. When it comes to conceal carrying the pistol on the body, due to the traditional L-shape of a pistol, the imprint under clothing can easily be identified that an individual is carrying a pistol. The current market solutions for concealed carry pistols (to reduce the ‘gun’ imprint) is to limit the size of the magazines (that contain the bullets). The larger the magazine, the harder it is to conceal. When the magazines are short, it reduces the amount of bullets (ammunition) that the magazine can contain. Also, the standard ‘L-shape’ of pistol limits the options to conceal or carry on the body. For example, a standard magazine on a full size pistol is around 16 rounds, but it would be very hard for an average person to practically carry that pistol in an ankle holster. Even trying to conceal that 16 round full size pistol under the arm-pit would reveal a bump protruding from the body.

This invention addresses, inter alia these issues:

-   -   1. Changes the imprint of traditional concealed carry pistols         from the traditional ‘L-Shape’ to a rectangle or ruler. So when         you conceal it under clothes, it has the imprint of a cell         phone.     -   2. Increase the methods a person can practically conceal or         carry a firearm. For example, this makes it practical to         conceal, carry, or store the pistol along the side of your leg,         while concealed under your pants. You can carry the pistol under         a long sleeve dress shirt, concealed along your forearm.     -   3. Increases the capacity of ammunition capacity, while reducing         the imprint that discloses to the average individual that         someone is carrying a pistol. For the same imprint of a square         or rectangle that a comparable traditional pistol with a high         capacity magazine of 16+ rounds would be a bigger imprint of the         invention with the same amount of ammunition.     -   4. Increase the comfort of carrying or concealing the pistol.     -   5. Increase storage options due to the different shapes that the         firearm can be configured in.

In various embodiments, the present invention is a novel improvement over currently known foldable firearms, at least:

1. Providing a multi-fold pistol configuration that can be folded, with or without a loaded magazine in the grip, under the upper slide that will give the gun the footprint of a rectangle. The grip can fold upwards and in-line with the slide which will give the gun the footprint of a candy bar or ruler, e.g. an in-line configuration.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a firearm comprising:

-   -   a firearm barrel:     -   a pistol grip housing dependent on said firearm barrel;     -   an ammunition housing constructed and arranged to connect to         said pistol grip housing;     -   a lower receiving frame affixed to a lower edge of said firearm         barrel;     -   a rail slot formed within said lower receiving frame, whereby         said real slot is configured with a proximal end formed in a         teardrop configuration;         a pivot pin dependent on said magazine housing, whereby said         pivot pin is constructed and arranged to slidably move within         said rail slot, and selectively position said magazine housing         and said ammunition housing into a firing configuration as in         FIG. 1 or into one of a rectangle stored configuration as in         FIG. 5 or an in-line stored configuration as in FIG. 6.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a firearm consisting essentially of:

-   -   a firearm barrel:     -   a pistol grip housing dependent on said firearm barrel;     -   an ammunition housing constructed and arranged to connect to         said pistol grip housing;     -   a lower receiving frame affixed to a lower edge of said firearm         barrel;     -   a rail slot formed within said lower receiving frame, whereby         said real slot is configured with a proximal end formed in a         teardrop configuration;         a pivot pin dependent on said magazine housing, whereby said         pivot pin is constructed and arranged to slidably move within         said rail slot, and selectively position said magazine housing         and said ammunition housing into a firing configuration as in         FIG. 1 or into one of a rectangle stored configuration as in         FIG. 5 or an in-line stored configuration as in FIG. 6.

In one embodiment, the teardrop configuration is constructed and arranged to assist with the alignment of the pistol grip housing to line up during the assembly of a ‘ready to fire’ position.

In one embodiment, a tension spring urges the firearm to a self-assemble, ready to fire configuration.

In one embodiment, the tension spring is configured to disengage and provide for manual assembly.

The present invention also includes a method for changing firearm configuration, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a firearm according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein; positioning said pistol grip and ammunition housing in a discharge configuration whereby said pistol grip and ammunition housing are locked into said discharge position; unlocking said pistol grip and ammunition housing from said discharge configuration; rotating said pistol grip and ammunition housing into one carry configuration selected from rectangular configuration or in line configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention being held by a user.

FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in a folded configuration being held by a user.

FIG. 3 is a side partial cross-section view demonstrating the movable handle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side partial cross-section view demonstrating movement of the movable handle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side partial cross-section view of one folded configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side partial cross-section view of one configuration demonstrating movement of the handle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side partial cross-section view demonstrating placement of bullets in an ammunition magazine according to one embodiment of the present invention, whereby the bullets are in a detachable magazine that has been inserted into the movable handle.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the magazine housing and housing pivot pin according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side partial cross-section view of the lower receiver frame and rail slot including a teardrop configuration along one end of the rail slot according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side partial cross-sectional view demonstrating a recessing or retractable trigger member into the lower receiver frame according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a novel firearm configuration whereby the user selects from one of two possible foldable configurations. The first foldable configuration as demonstrated in FIG. 5 will be referred to as the rectangle configuration. In this configuration magazine housing 12 holds ammunition magazine 14 and is positioned underneath firearm barrel 13. In the second foldable configuration as demonstrated in FIG. 6, which will refer to as the candy bar or in-line marinated configuration, ammunition magazine 14 is extended rearward from the barrel of a firearm barrel 13 and is essentially collinear with firearm barrel 13.

As generally understood, firearm 10 includes an ammunition magazine 14 pivotably attached to a firearm barrel 13. Firearm 10 further includes a trigger 20 extending downward and outward from lower receiver frame 30. In one embodiment, trigger 20 is a foldable trigger A lock mechanism 32 is incorporated with magazine housing 12 and a magazine secure and release latch mechanism 26 is also incorporated with magazine housing 12. In one embodiment, the lock mechanism 32 is on the back of the housing that locks onto the teardrop. Either configuration is contemplated for locking the movable handle to the lower receiver. A magazine to frames securing clip 34 is incorporated with lower receiver frame 30. In one embodiment, firearm 10 has an optional securing clip 34 is constructed and arranged to lock ammunition magazine 14 into a closed position when utilizing the rectangular configuration 38 as demonstrated in FIG. 5. In one embodiment, the firearm 10 is configured using a tension spring that pulls the housing forward, so if the firearm 10 is folded, that tension with the shape of the teardrop will cause the housing to rotate and snap forward to self-assemble the firearm. For demonstrative and directional purposes, the discharge end of firearm barrel 13 will be referred to as a distal end and the end closest to the user will be referred to as a proximal end. Rail slot 29 is formed on lower receiver frame 30 and is constructed and arranged such that the distal end of Rail slot 29 has a teardrop configured terminal end 25. The present invention has discovered that only by use of the teardrop configure terminal and 25 can pivot pin 18 be configured to allow for a user selecting either the rectangular or candy bar configurations according to the present invention. Pivot pin 18 is constructed and arranged to position within rail slot 29 and slidably move within rail slot 29 as desired by the user to configure firearm 10 into candy bar configuration as demonstrated in figure having candy bar profile 37, a user Will rotate ammunition magazine 14 in the proximal direction as shown by directional arrow in FIG. 4. The present invention, after exploring a great number of geometric shapes, configurations and combinations, has discovered that the teardrop shape is the only geometric shape completely functional because if any force pushes the housing grip towards the distal end, the housing grip will be guided to align properly with the rail. Once the housing grip has reached the end of the distal end of the rail, it will lock into place and the pistol will be ready to fire.

The teardrop configuration, or teardrop like shape, at the end of the rail is important because of the slants (basically a teardrop is a half-circle and two slants) that will automatically rotate the housing pin to align the lower housing correctly with the upper receiver.

As generally understood, pivot pin 18 will have a width approximately equal to dimension b, and dimension b will equal the inner distance across Rail slot 29.

When a user desires the fault firearm 10 into the rectangular configuration of FIG. 5 thus imparting imprint 38 magazine housing 12 and ammunition magazine 14 firearm barrel 13 is rotated in the distal direction until it is locked into position by engaging magazine to frame secure clip 34 and forming the configuration of FIG. 5. As demonstrated in FIG. 7, ammunition 16 is positioned within ammunition magazine 14 in an angular configuration equal to angle C such that the angled magazine housing 12 and ammunition magazine 14 provides ammunition 16 two firearm barrel 13 to minimize the possibility of ammunition 16 not being loaded in a co-linear manner two firearm barrel 13.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed:
 1. A firearm comprising: a firearm barrel: a pistol grip housing dependent on said firearm barrel; an ammunition housing constructed and arranged to connect to said pistol grip housing; a lower receiving frame affixed to a lower edge of said firearm barrel; a rail slot formed within said lower receiving frame, whereby said real slot is configured with a proximal end formed in a teardrop configuration; a pivot pin dependent on said magazine housing, whereby said pivot pin is constructed and arranged to slidably move within said rail slot, and selectively position said magazine housing and said ammunition housing into a firing configuration or into one of a rectangle stored configuration or an in-line stored configuration.
 2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein said teardrop configuration is constructed and arranged to assist with the alignment of the pistol grip housing to line up during the assembly of a ‘ready to fire’ position.
 3. The firearm of claim 1 wherein a tension spring urges the firearm to a self-assemble, ready to fire configuration.
 4. The firearm of claim 3 wherein said tension spring is configured to disengage and provide for manual assembly.
 5. A method for changing firearm configuration, said method comprising the steps of: providing a firearm according to claim 1; positioning said pistol grip and ammunition housing in a discharge configuration whereby said pistol grip and ammunition housing are locked into said discharge position; unlocking said pistol grip and ammunition housing from said discharge configuration; rotating said pistol grip and ammunition housing into one carry configuration selected from rectangular configuration or in line configuration. 